Fed Govt begins schools census next month

To gather reliable data on the population of pupils in basic and post basic education levels across the country, the Federal Government has concluded arrangement to conduct this year’s annual school census nationwide.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqqayatu Ahmed Rufai, who disclosed this in Abuja, stated that the printing of 2011/2012 annual school census questionnaire would be completed next week.

While speaking at the meeting of commissioners of Education forum in her office, Rufai remarked that the government's ability to move education sector forward is independent on the availability of reliable and verifiable data.

She directed all the 36 commissioners of education and secretary of education in the FCT to start necessary arrangements to ensure that the annual school census is completed by April 20.

The minister reiterated that the unit in charge of the census in her ministry would be in touch with states to monitor their progress on the preparation and the conduct of the census, adding that the ministry would also continually be in touch with the states to assess progress in the development of effective Education Information System (EIS) in their domains.

On adult and non-formal education, Rufai urged the commissioners to be prepared for the challenges of non-formal education as a way of improving the lots of the masses in the country.

The National Commission for Adult and Non-formal Education (NMEC), according to her, is working on a plan, which will need the involvement of states for full implementation.

The meeting, which was attended by all the commissioners of education in the 36 states and education secretary in the FCT, was conveyed to review resolutions made at the 58th National Council on Education (NCE) which held recently.